I once read a good line about young love, and the act of love, that stuck: in the ideal romance, each act is better than the one before, yet not so great that there is no room for improvement. Room must be left for the amelioration of physical love to continue.

I first met Francois Mitjavile in 2004, to taste both 2003 Tertre-Rôteboeuf and 2003 Roc de Cambes. I was struck by both man and wine, and remember leaving with the distinct impression that Mr Mitjavile knew each one of his vines by name, and knew them well.

A few years back I came across winehog.org. It’s creator, Steen Öhman, had picked up on something I had written for my then employers (I still wake up angry, BTW) about a bottle (well, two, actually) of 1929 Musigny that I had drunk with Bernard Repolt, Nice Guy Eddie and a bunch of other guys, […]

So: a couple of weeks back I failed to win Jancis Robinson’s wine writing competition. Were it not for the unquestionable quality, and notable enthusiasm, of the winner’s writing I would be as bitter as 2013 claret but I’m over it now.